Structure with tubular metal elements for covering or separating two superimposed floors of a building



Apnl 9, 1968- A. CANEPA v 3,376,919 STRUCTURE WITH TUBULAR METAL ELEMENTS FOR COVERING OR I SEPARATING TWO SUPERIMPOSED FLOORS OF A BUILDING Filed Nov. 9, 1965 mu v INVENTOR I laosr/A/o 6 4/1/47 4 ATTORNEY United States Patent 055cc 3,376,919 STRUCTURE WITH TUBULAR METAL ELEMENTS FOR COVERING R SEPARATING TWO SUPER- IMPOSED FLOORS OF A BUILDING Agostino Canepa, Milan, Italy, assignor to Ferrotubi S.p.A., Milan, Italy Filed Nov. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 507,020 Claims priority, application Italy, Nov. 9, 1964, 741,840; Oct. 29, 1965, Ser. No 732,956 11 Claims. (Cl. 165-53) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A building floor or roof structure is made up of tubular steel elements, as of trapezoidal or triangular cross section, which are arranged sideby side in parallel relation with their bottom walls aligned to form the lower surface of the structure, are interconnected by metal reinforcements welded to their upper surfaces, and have concrete cast between and over them to form reinforced beams integral withv a concrete slab embedding the reinforcements. A radiant structure is obtained when the reinforcements are pipes coiled to circulate a heating or cooling fluid. Perforations in the bottom walls of the tubular elements and insulating material inside them make the structure heat and sound insulating.

The present invention relates to a structure with tubular metal elements for covering or separating two superimposed floors of a building.

More particularly, the object of the present invention is a structure, as above stated, characterized by comprising a plurality of tubular metal elements, preferably steel elements, drawn near and parallel to one another, the lower surface of which forms the lower surface of the structure, and the side and top shapes of which are such that the various adjoining elements form channels between each other, said channels being filled with concrete, or the like, so as to realize rafters, eventually reinforced rafters, such tubular elements being connected at the upper surfaces thereof by a metal reinforcement, welded thereto and embedded within the concrete slab, or the like.

The structure will result as a floor or vault according to the rectilinear or arcuate arrangement of the tubular elements.

According to a preferred embodiment, when the tubular elements are rectilinear, said metal reinforcement is formed of tubes being joined to each other so as to provide a coil within which a heating or cooling fluid may circulate, so that the floor will be a radiant floor.

The accompanying drawing diagrammatically shows by way of non-limitative example some floor related embodiments, namely:

FIGURE 1 is a partially broken away plan view of the floor object of the present invention, according to the radiant floor embodiment.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of the floor of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of a further embodiment of said floor.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a tubular element used in the floor of FIGURE 1.

In the following description there is particularly shown 6 an embodiment in which the floor, object of the present invention, is a radiant floor.

It is to be understood that when, in lieu of a tube coil suitable not only to connect the other, but also for circulation of a heating or cooling fluid, metal rods or the like are used, said rods being tubular elements to each 7 5 from a structural 3,376,919 Patented Apr. 9, 1968 adapted for only such connection, the floor will not be altered from a structural point of view.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, it can be seen that according to a preferred radiant embodiment thereof the floor, object of the present invention, comprises a plurality of tubular metal elements 1, preferably steel elements. Said elements are of a substantially isosceles trapezium section, the greater base of which is located at the bottom and extended at both ends, the metal sheet forming the element being bent at each of said ends so as to provide a fin or tab 2 (FIGURE 4).

Said elements 1 are arranged adjoining and parallel to each other, so that the lower surface 1' thereof forms the lower surface of the floor, whilst the inclined side walls 3 thereof together with fins or tabs 2 form channels 4, said channels also being of an isosceles trapezium section, the greater base of which is, however, located at the top. Within said channels 4 concrete 5 or the like is cast, so as to form rafters, eventually reinforced rafters, and casting takes simultaneously place with slab 6, also forming part of said floor, and about which more detailed information is given hereinafter.

At the top, the various tubular elements 1 are connected near the upper surfaces 1" thereof by tubes 10, welded thereto and forming a coil indicated as a whole at 11. Thus, such a coil provides a connecting reinforcement for the various tubular elements 1; in addition, said coil is suitable for a circulation therein of a heating or cooling fluid, such as hot or cold water.

Coil 11 is embedded, as a result, within the above cited concrete slab 6, or the like.

The present invention contemplates that eventually the lower surface 1' of each tubular element 1 may be provided with a plurality of holes 12. In such a case, each of the tubular elements 1 are completely or partially filled with heat insulating and acoustic absorbing material 13. For example, fibre glass or rock wool can be used as heat insulating and acoustic absorbing material.

When a heating fluid, such as hot water, is circulated within coil 11, there will be a heat radiation both upwardly, that is to the rooms above the floor, and downwardly, that is to the rooms below the floor being considered.

Particularly, as for heat radiation to the room below it is to be noted that such radiation will occur also in casev of heat insulating material 13 being used, since an excellent heat transmission is provided for between tubes 10 of a coil 11 and eachtubular element 1; it is each tubular element 1 that provides for the major part of heat radiation through its lower surface 1'.

It is to be noted that said radiation occurs without thermic inertia, a negative feature generally produced by radiant floors.

Completely similar considerations are valid as for cooling obtainable when a cooling liquid, such as cold water, is circulated within coil 11.

In the case that a plurality of holes 12 are formed in the lower surface of each tubular element 1 and the tubular element 1 is completely or partially filled with heat insulating and sound absorbing material 13, in addition to radiant heating and cooling the above described floor is suitable for providing for an excellent acoustic absorption, which is particularly appreciated when said floor covers noisy rooms.

As above stated, the floor is substantially unchanged point of view even when, in lieu of tubes forming a coil, rods or the like are used for the connection of the various elements so as to realize an only bearing floor instead of a radiant floor.

To this purpose, an example is given in FIGURE 3.

According to the embodiment of FIGURE 3, each tubular element 21 is of an isosceles triangle section with a base 21.

By approaching the various elements 21 to one another, with the bases thereof at the bottom and the longitudinal edges of one element adhering to the edges of the adjacent element, channels 22 are provided for, said channels also being of isosceles triangle section with the base, however, located at the top. At the upper part, the various elements 21 are connected by rods 25.

Floor 26 is carried out by casting concrete 23 or the like, forming slab 24 at the upper part, Within said channels 22; at the lower part, said floor has a surface formed of the various flat portions 21 of the individual adjoining elements 21.

In the foregoing description and figures there have been illustrated embodiments in which the tubular elements are rectilinear, and hence the structure, of which they form part, is a floor.

However, according to the present invention, said tubular elements can also be arcuate, and thus the resulting structure is a vault, with concrete small vaults or the like between the various tubular elements in lieu of rafters.

Changes and variations can be effected in the structure according to the present invention without departing for this from the protective field of the invention. Particularly, the tubular elements may, for example, be of a trapezoidal shape without fins or tabs, or of other form than the trapezoidal and triangular shape, provided they always have at least one side forming the lower surface of the structure.

What is claimed is:

1. A structure for covering rooms or separating superimposed rooms of a building, comprising a plurality of elongated tubular steel load-supporting elements arranged side by side in parallel relation, the bottom walls of said elements being aligned to constitute the lower surface of said structure, the adjacent side walls of adjacent ones of said elements being spaced apart laterally to form channels between said elements, said tubular elements being interconnected by metal reinforcements fixed to the upper surfaces thereof, and concrete cast in said channels and over said elements to constitute reinforced beams and, integral with said beams, a concrete slab embedding said reinforcements.

2. A structure according to claim 1, said reinforcements comprising tubes Welded to the upper surfaces of said tubular elements and forming a coil within which a heating or cooling fluid can be circulated, so that said structure constitutes a radiant floor or roof.

3. A structure according to claim 1, each of said tubular elements being of a substantially isosceles trapezium cross section, the greater base of which is located at the bottom of said structure and extended laterally beyond the side walls of the element into lateral flanges of sheet metal bent upon itself and joined with said side walls.

4. A structure according to claim 1, said reinforcements comprising tubes welded to the upper surfaces of said tubular elements and forming a coil within which a heating or cooling fluid can be circulated, so that said structure constitutes a radiant floor or roof, each of said tubular elements being of a substantially isosceles trapezium cross section, the greater base of which is located at the bottom of said structure and extended laterally beyond the side walls of the element into lateral flanges of sheet metal bent upon itself and joined with said side walls.

5. A structure according to claim 1, each of said tubular elements being of an isosceles triangle cross section, the base of which is located at the bottom of said structure.

6. A structure according to claim 1, said reinforcements comprising tubes welded to the upper surfaces of said tubular elements and forming a coil within which a heating or cooling fluid can be circulated, so that said structure constitutes a radiant floor or roof, each of said tubular elements being of an isosceles triangle cross section, the base of which is located at the bottom of said structure.

7. A structure according to claim 1, each of said tubular elements having the bottom wall thereof provided with a plurality of holes therethrough and being in addition at least partially filled with heat insulating and sound absorbing material.

8. A structure according to claim 1, said reinforcements comprising tubes welded to the upper surfaces of said tubular elements and forming a coil within which a heating or cooling fluid can be circulated, so that said structure constitutes a radiant floor or roof, each of said tubular elements having the bottom wall thereof provided with a plurality of holes therethrough and being in addition at least partially filled with heat insulating and sound absorbing material.

9. A structure according to claim 1, said tubular elements being longitudinally rectilinear, whereby the resulting structure constitutes a substantially flat roof and/ or floor.

10. A structure according to claim 1, said tubular elements being longitudinally arcuate, whereby the resulting structure constitutes a vault.

11. A structure according to claim 1, said reinforcements comprising tubes welded to the upper surfaces of said tubular elements and forming a coil within which a heating or cooling fluid can be circulated, and said tubular elements being longitudinally arcuate, so that said structure constitutes a radiant floor or roof having the form of a vault.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,469,963 5/1949 Grosjean et a1. l-l7l 3,053,509 9/1962 Haupt et al. -56

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES SUKALO, Examiner. 

